Dutch-funded greenhouses to be built for disabled in Oman

Muscat: Dutch-funded greenhouses will soon be built to aid the disabled in Oman, reflecting Dutch expertise in horticulture.
Revenues from the upcoming Dutch Night 2016, organised by the Dutch community in Oman, will be used to fund the greenhouses, said members of the organising committee during a Monday dinner honouring sponsors.
Hanna van der Lande, member of the organising committee of Dutch Night, thanked last year’s sponsors of Dutch Night, which raised OMR10,000 for a preschool in Samail. The preschool, which did not have sufficient facilities, was able to build new classrooms and purchase new furniture and equipment using the money donated by the Dutch community to the Dar Al Atta’a charity.
“We would like to thank the loyal supporters of Dutch Night, who have made all of this possible”, she said. Van der Lande stressed the importance of linking Dutch Night, which is held on Dutch King’s Day, with charity.
“By linking the organisation of Dutch Night with a charitable aim, we are organising more than just a party. In this way, we attempt to give more value to our connection with Oman, which we regard as our home”, she said.
Further, Van der Lande praised the cooperation with Dar Al Atta’a, which carries out projects funded by the Dutch community.
May Al Bayat, Marketing Director of Dar Al Atta’a, expressed her thanks for the funds received from Dutch Night. The Dutch community numbers around 700, according to the Dutch embassy.
“We want to thank the sponsors and organisers of Dutch Night from the bottom of our hearts. Thanks to your support, we have been able to improve facilities at the school in Samail”, she said.
Al Bayat added that preschools in rural areas often do not have adequate facilities.
She said that this year, the disabled will also benefit from the support of the upcoming Dutch Night.
“Thanks to the Dutch community and the sponsors, the disabled will finally be able to make a living when they receive these greenhouses. Previously, their crops were often destroyed because of the heat”, she said.
The greenhouses, to be built at Al Wafa Centre for Disabled in Bid Bid, are “typically Dutch”, Barbara Joziasse, Ambassador of the Netherlands, said.
“I’m really excited about this project, since those greenhouses are close to the Dutch heart. While we in the Netherlands use greenhouses to provide warmth to crops, in Oman the heat will instead be kept away,” she noted.
Joziasse explained that horticulture and greenhouses form a major industry in the Netherlands, as well as an important export product.
“I think it could also be a good business for the people of Oman. There is a lot to gain, especially when it comes to Oman-branding. Dutch knowledge of horticulture can certainly help here”, she said.
Wim Berendsen, Project Manager at CB and I and one of the major sponsors, told the Times of Oman that his company decided to support the project, keeping in mind the importance of helping the disabled.
“Any country that does not recognise the needs of its disabled, is not doing well”, he added.
Another major sponsor, OHI, said it is important to give back something to the community.
“We have been doing this for over twenty years. When you do it once, and every time you see the satisfaction that comes out of it, you get the satisfaction returnedmany times.”
Ambassador Joziasse told the Times of Oman that she appreciated the initiative.
“It is great to see that they have decided to not only have a party, but also give something back to the community and help those in need. I think it is important to make the guests aware that there are also people who are in need of help”, she said.